Cavaliers had a good shot at surging Red Raiders

Scattershooting around the ACC, while noting that until last Saturday night, one of the teams that came the closest to stopping the nation’s current longest winning streak was Virginia ...

While the Cavaliers’ collective minds have been focused entirely on their ACC Coastal Division race, they’ve kept an eye on Texas Tech, which owns the nation’s longest unbeaten streak at 11. The Red Raiders scored on the final play of the game to beat No. 1 Texas, 39-33, last weekend.

During that 11-game streak, Texas Tech has had only a couple of brushes with defeat — a 37-31 overtime win over Nebraska last month, and its 31-28 comeback win over Virginia last December in the Gator Bowl.

Several UVa players, including linebackers Clint Sintim and Jon Copper, said they have kept tabs on the Raiders ever since that game.

“[Michael] Crabtree is easily one of the best wide receivers in the nation,” said Sintim of the Texas Tech All-American who caught the winning TD pass against the Longhorns, and who struggled to do much against Virginia.

Groh and his staff were so impressed with what the Red Raiders were doing that they had several dialogues with the Texas Tech coaches back in the spring.

“From a professional standpoint, having played them last year and understanding the scheme and being intrigued by it, we followed [Tech] pretty closely,” said Groh. “We’re highly impressed with what they’re doing. They’re doing an awesome job.”

The Red Raiders are 9-0 this season and ranked No. 2 nationally, and are still putting up amazing numbers.

“I still believe if [quarterback] Jameel [Sewell] had not become injured, that we would have had a real good chance to win the game,” Groh said of the Gator Bowl contest. “We feel somewhat confirmed now with the points they’re putting up, what [Tech coach] Mike Leach was gracious enough to say after the game, which was that [Virginia] was the best plan that had been put forth against them.”

Groh said that the Cavaliers are rooting for Texas Tech to do well because of all the cooperation between staffs this spring.

“We appreciated their openness and hospitality,” Groh said of the exchange of thoughts.

In fact, when other schools called Virginia this spring to find out the Cavaliers’ secret in shutting down the Red Raiders’ high-powered offense for most of that game, the Wahoos were less forthcoming than normal.

“Not to be secretive about what we did, but we had good dialogue with their coaches there,” Groh said. “They wanted to know what we were thinking when we played them and we were asking some things about what they were doing. So, we didn’t go out and conduct clinics on what we did.”

Happy birthday Bobby

Florida State coach Bobby Bowden will turn 79 this Saturday when his Seminoles take on Clemson. The coach is 4-1 in games played on his birthday.

However, the Clemson game will have a new twist for the veteran coach. It will be the first time in several years that he won’t be coaching against his son, Tommy, who was fired by the Tigers a few weeks ago.

“It takes out the fact that somebody in your family has to win or lose,” said Bobby Bowden, who had lost three straight to Clemson. “I think [wife] Ann will be a lot more loose. I will miss seeing Tommy out on the field before the game.”

However, the elder Bowden said he doesn’t have any payback for Clemson for firing his son.

“No, I don’t do that. I would be just as fired up for them as anybody else,” he said. “We all know when we get into this game the consequences of winning and losing. We’re ready for that mentally.”

Stat of the week

Virginia’s junior wide receiver Kevin Ogletree needs six receptions against Wake Forest this Saturday to become only the second player in Wahoo history to record two seasons with 50 receptions.

Billy McMullen did it in 2001 and ’02.

Ogletree would become only the 26th player in ACC history to reach that feat.

The Devil you say

Bowl talk in Durham?

As odd as it seems, it’s true. Duke needs two wins to become bowl eligible, but Coach David Cutcliffe is trying to not let such talk distract the Blue Devils from the task at hand.

The last time Duke played in a bowl game was 1994, but getting there might be easier said than done. The Devils still have to play N.C. State, Clemson, Virginia Tech and North Carolina.

Hold that Tiger

Future Clemson opponents better make sure they keep an eye on C.J. Spiller at all times.

The junior tailback was the difference in the Tigers’ win at Boston College last weekend as he amassed 242 all-purpose yards, including the most pivotal play of the afternoon, a 64-yard kickoff return that set up the winning score.

“There ain’t another guy like that in the whole country,” said Clemson quarterbacks coach Billy Napier. “He’s special. He blows my mind watchig that tape. He makes everybody look like they’re in slow motion.”

Clemson running backs coach Andre Powell, who used to hold that same position on Virginia’s staff under George Welsh, said this of Spiller:

“I’ve never been around a guy that can accelerate and change direction as quick as he can.”

Quote of the week

Duke quarterback Thaddeus Lewis said he has discovered the secret to avoid fumbling when getting blindsided by pass rushers:

“Yeah ... keep two hands on the ball.”

High ankle Hokies

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer is keeping everyone in suspense for tonight’s big home clash against visiting Maryland.

Beamer said it would be a game-time decision on who would start at quarterback for the Hokies, attempting to bounce back from a two-game losing streak. However, most insiders believe that third-team quarterback Cory Holt, who was moved over from wide receiver after starter Tyrod Taylor and backup Sean Glennon both suffered high ankle sprains, will start the game.

“Both [Taylor and Glennon] have worked some in practice and are listed as questionable right now,” Beamer said during Wednesday’s ACC coaches teleconference. “We’ll know [tonight].”

Beamer said that Holt has done well in practice and has thrown the ball well.

“We’ll figure it out in warmups,” the Tech coach said.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen said he’s not going to be surprised at whomever lines up at quarterback for the Hokies.

“We’re expecting whoever to play well,” Friedgen said. “Holt did a remarkable job [against Florida State in Tech’s last game]. He looks like a good one to me. The only way for us to go into it is that all three could play. They’ve had extra time to heal with the open week.”

Rocky Top calling?

Wake Forest coach Jim Grobe, who will be going up against his alma mater when Virginia travels to Winston-Salem this weekend, has been mentioned with almost every decent head coaching job vacancy in the past three years.

This week is no different.

Grobe’s name has been floating around Knoxville after Tennessee announced that veteran coach Phil Fulmer will not return next season.

Having his name consistently come up is flattering, but Grobe isn’t sure it’s a good thing.

“It can be very distracting but we’ve been dealing with it for a while now,” he said. “It’s always nice if people think you’re doing a good job at your present school. I doubt that our kids are distracted by any of that stuff.”

Grobe said a few years ago he had to talk to his team about the rumors, but since then hasn’t found it necessary.

Shannon praises Groh

Miami coach Randy Shannon said that upsetting Virginia in Scott Stadium last weekend was a huge deal for his Hurricanes.

“I think Virginia’s a real good football team,” Shannon said. “Al Groh’s done a tremendous job with them, bouncing back from two losses. They’ve playled some great competition, beating Georgia Tech and North Carolina. He’s doing a great job and I think [UVa’s] football team is going to be tough to beat when it’s all said and done.”

By the way, of the only three ACC teams that are ranked in this week’s BCS poll, Virginia has beaten all three of them: No. 19 North Carolina; No. 20 Georgia Tech; and No. 23 Maryland.

Quote of the Week II

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen on the ACC’s parity (the ACC is the only league in major college football to boast 11 teams with at least a .500 record or better (the SEC has eight):

“I think it’s the trademark of our conference. I don’t think the people outside of our conference appreciate it. The coaches understand every week is a difficult game and the team that can get up every week and can win on the road has the best chance to win the conference. If the NFL could be like the ACC, all the owners would be happy.”

Short yardage

Maryland, by the way, is 3-0 in games decided by seven points or less and has won two of its three league games with fourth-quarter, game winning drives. ... UNC has trailed in all six of its wins this season, but conversely led most of the games in both its losses to Virginia Tech and Virginia. ... Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson said that of his 22 starters against Carolina this weekend, 16 of them will be freshmen or sophomores. ... Virginia Tech has played only one home game over a 54-day stretch heading into tonight’s game against the Terps. However, the Hokies play three of their next four at home ... Now that Georgia Tech ended 12 years of frustration by beating FSU last weekend, Duke remains the lone ACC team that has not beaten the Seminoles. ... By the way, Georgia Tech is bowl eligible for the 12th straight year.

The picks

Last week: 2-2. To date: 51-20. Tonight: (With Glennon or Taylor) Virginia Tech 27, Maryland 24; (Without Glennon or Taylor) Maryland 24, Virginia Tech 19. Saturday: North Carolina 23, Georgia Tech 20; Florida State 30, Clemson 27; N.C. State 21, Duke 19; Notre Dame 24, Boston College 20; Virginia 19, Wake Forest 17.